Where What Why? Tales of controversial & curious place names

Where What Why is a growing collection of stories written by journalism students from across Australia and Indonesia. The stories delve into the names of places, when the names were bestowed and the people who chose the names, are honoured by them, and are living with them now. The collection is edited by journalism lecturers and tutors who encourage their students to start investigations with this core set of questions.

To read the Where What Why stories click through the tiles on the side or the points on the map

What’s in a name, and once a name is given to a place should it ever be changed?

This project approaches these questions with an open mind and invites a range of people to share their thoughts about the names written on our maps.

It also considers the reasons for keeping names as they are, and the processes involved in changing the names of geographic features.

Some of the names we explore have recently changed. Others are polarising or contentious. Many were assigned during colonisation and celebrate imperial military figures. In many cases, when these places were named, the loudest voices were those that told the victors' stories.

 King Leopold of Belgium   is one such example. He was once considered to be a hero, but is now widely referred to as a butcher for the way he mutilated and killed millions of Congolese people. Yet we still have places in Australia named in his honour. 

Discussing changing place names, Curtin University's Professor Richard Blythe quotes the philosopher Nietzsche, who talked about history being made in the moment we write it:

"We have the power now, in the moment we are living in, to make history by changing names that no longer reflect our shared values."

He says changing place names in an appropriate way “is really the basis of a civic society and not a society that sweeps all the bad stuff under the carpet.”

Other sites have come to our attention because the English language is fluid and words that were once considered plain and uncontroversial are now considered rude or unacceptable. The words 'dick' and the derogatory 'N word', are examples that are still in use on our maps.

According to Irwin Districts Historical Society chair Bruce Baskerville: "A place name is a few potent words that summarise the story of a place."

While he is not sure whether the place he lives will ever shed the name of the colonial military man it is named for, he is committed to telling both sides of the story about that man: his courage and victories, as well as the errors and atrocities.

This project shares that view and aims to air a range of views to faciltate conversations and a deeper understanding of the places we live in.

In this 8 minute video you'll meet the people who launched this project and hear why it matters.

Is there a place name that you'd like us to investigate and tell a story about?

If so, we'd love to hear from you.